Chainring

Abstract

A solitary chainring of a bicycle front crankset for engaging a drive chain, including a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth consisting of an even number. The plurality of teeth includes a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth arranged alternatingly between the first group of teeth. The first group of teeth and the second group of teeth are equal in number. Each of the first and second group of teeth include an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side and each tooth of the first group of teeth includes at least a first protrusion on the outboard side thereof and each tooth of the second group of teeth are free of the first protrusions on the outboard side and the inboard side.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bicycle chainring for engagement with a drive chain, comprising:
 a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth including a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth, each of the first group of teeth wider than each of the second group of teeth and at least some of the second group of teeth arranged alternatingly and adjacently between the first group of teeth, wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a tooth tip; 
 wherein a plane bisects the chainring into an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side; and 
 wherein at least the majority of the tooth tip of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is offset from the plane in a direction toward the outboard side of the chainring. 
 
     
     
       2. The bicycle chainring of  claim 1 , wherein the center of a top land of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is offset from the plane in a direction toward the outboard side of the chainring. 
     
     
       3. The bicycle chainring of  claim 1 , for engagement with a miler drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the first group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the outer link spaces. 
 
     
     
       4. The bicycle chainring of  claim 1 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the second group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the inner link spaces. 
 
     
     
       5. A bicycle crankset including the bicycle chainring of  claim 1 , the bicycle crankset further comprising:
 a crank arm including a solitary bicycle chainring attached to the crank arm. 
 
     
     
       6. A bicycle drivetrain including the bicycle chainring of  claim 1 , the bicycle drivetrain further comprising:
 a plurality of rear hub mounted sprockets; and 
 a roller drive chain connecting one of the plurality of sprockets to the chainring, the drive chain including alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively. 
 
     
     
       7. A bicycle chainring for engagement with a drive chain, comprising:
 a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth including a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth, each of the first group of teeth wider than each of the second group of teeth and at least some of the second group of teeth arranged alternatingly and adjacently between the first group of teeth, wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a tooth tip; 
 wherein a plane bisects the chainring into an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side; and 
 wherein at least the majority of the tooth tip of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is offset from the plane in a direction toward the inboard side of the chainring. 
 
     
     
       8. The bicycle chainring of  claim 7 , wherein the center of a top land of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is offset from the plane in a direction toward the inboard side of the chainring. 
     
     
       9. The bicycle chainring of  claim 7 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the first group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the outer link spaces. 
 
     
     
       10. The bicycle chainring of  claim 7 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the second group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the inner link spaces. 
 
     
     
       11. A bicycle crankset including the bicycle chainring of  claim 7 , the bicycle crankset further comprising:
 a crank arm including a solitary bicycle chainring attached to the crank arm. 
 
     
     
       12. A bicycle drivetrain including the bicycle chainring of  claim 7 , the bicycle drivetrain further comprising:
 a plurality of rear hub mounted sprockets; and 
 a roller drive chain connecting one of the plurality of sprockets to the chainring, the drive chain including alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively. 
 
     
     
       13. A bicycle chainring for engagement with a drive chain, comprising:
 a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth including a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth, each of the first group of teeth wider than each of the second group of teeth and at least some of the second group of teeth arranged alternatingly and adjacently between the first group of teeth, wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a tooth tip; 
 an outboard side of the chainring and an inboard side of the chainring opposite the outboard side; 
 the outboard side of the chainring including an outboard side surface, wherein a portion of the outboard side surface forms a plane; 
 the inboard side of the chainring including an inboard side surface, wherein a portion of the inboard side surface forms a plane; and 
 wherein at least the majority of the tooth tip of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is disposed closer to the plane formed by the outboard side surface than to the plane formed by the inboard side surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The bicycle chainring of  claim 13 , wherein the center of a top land of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is disposed closer to the plane formed by the outboard side surface than to the plane formed by the inboard side surface. 
     
     
       15. The bicycle chainring of  claim 13 , wherein the outboard side is the outermost side of the chainring and the inboard side is the innermost side of the chainring. 
     
     
       16. The bicycle chainring of  claim 13 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the first group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the outer link spaces. 
 
     
     
       17. The bicycle chainring of  claim 13 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the second group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the inner link spaces. 
 
     
     
       18. A bicycle crankset including the bicycle chainring of  claim 13 , the bicycle crankset further comprising:
 a crank arm including a solitary bicycle chainring attached to the crank arm. 
 
     
     
       19. A bicycle drivetrain including the bicycle chainring of  claim 13 , the bicycle drivetrain further comprising:
 a plurality of rear hub mounted sprockets; and 
 a roller drive chain connecting one of the plurality of sprockets to the chainring, the drive chain including alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively. 
 
     
     
       20. A bicycle chainring for engagement with a drive chain, comprising:
 a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth including a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth, each of the first group of teeth wider than each of the second group of teeth and at least some of the second group of teeth arranged alternatingly and adjacently between the first group of teeth, wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a tooth tip; 
 an outboard side of the chainring and an inboard side of the chainring opposite the outboard side; 
 the outboard side of the chainring including an outboard side surface, wherein a portion of the outboard side surface forms a plane; 
 the inboard side of the chainring including an inboard side surface, wherein a portion of the inboard side surface forms a plane; and 
 wherein at least the majority of the tooth tip of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is disposed closer to the plane formed by the inboard side surface than to the plane formed by the outboard side surface. 
 
     
     
       21. The bicycle chainring of  claim 20 , wherein the center of a top land of at least one of each of the first and second groups of teeth is disposed closer to the plane formed by the inboard side surface than to the plane formed by the outboard side surface. 
     
     
       22. The bicycle chainring of  claim 20 , wherein the outboard side is the outermost side of the chainring and the inboard side is the innermost side of the chainring. 
     
     
       23. The bicycle chainring of  claim 20 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the first group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the outer link spaces. 
 
     
     
       24. The bicycle chainring of  claim 20 , for engagement with a roller drive chain having alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively, wherein each of the first group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the outer link spaces and each of the second group of teeth is sized and shaped to fit within one of the inner link spaces; and
 wherein each of the second group of teeth fills at least 75 percent of an axial distance defined by the inner link spaces. 
 
     
     
       25. A bicycle crankset including the bicycle chainring of  claim 20 , the bicycle crankset further comprising:
 a crank arm including a solitary bicycle chainring attached to the crank arm. 
 
     
     
       26. A bicycle drivetrain including the bicycle chainring of  claim 20 , the bicycle drivetrain further comprising:
 a plurality of rear hub mounted sprockets; and 
 a roller drive chain connecting one of the plurality of sprockets to the chainring, the drive chain including alternating outer and inner chain links defining outer and inner link spaces, respectively.